Santa Clarita voters may get chance to change city logo

Council meeting also to address $130K road contract

In addition to picking new city council members next April, local voters may decide whether to add “In God We Trust” to the Santa Clarita logo.

On Tuesday’s council agenda is a request to add a ballot measure for the April 10, 2010, municipal election asking voters to decide on the logo change.

Councilman Bob Kellar broached the issue at the council’s April 14 meeting. He said he was inspired to bring the matter up after seeing Victorville residents celebrating the addition of the phrase to that city’s logo.

Fifty-two California cities have the phrase “In God We Trust” next to their logo in their City Council chambers, according to the agenda report.

Of those cities, 51 reportedly chose to display the phrase after council approval. Villa Park was the only city to put it to a public vote.

The colorful Santa Clarita logo is different from the city seal. The latter is a stamp for official documents that simply bears the name of the city and county and the date of incorporation.

It would cost between $500 and $700 to add the phrase to the logo in the council chambers at Santa Clarita City Hall, according to the report.

Also on the agenda is a request to award $130,151 for the design contract for a traffic circle in downtown Newhall at the intersection of 5th Street and Newhall Avenue.

The city’s public works department received proposals from five companies. City staff is recommending the council award the contract to MNS Engineers, Inc. in Bakersfield.

The City Council meets at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, located at 23920 Valencia Blvd.